STRESS AND COPING IN THE PRACTICE OF FAMILY-THERAPY - A BRITISH SURVEY

A sample of 171 members of the Association for Family Therapy (UK) was surveyed and data obtained on their general level of experienced stre ss, the sources and levels of experienced stresses they encountered in their practice, and the professional and private coping strategies th ey used to mitigate the effects of these stressors. The results indica te that stress can be experienced in all practice contexts, with impor tant factors in its overall configuration being personal/professional worth and agency expectation. Family therapists appear to prefer copin g strategies of a more social nature and there is an ambivalent attitu de towards 'therapy for therapists'.